St. Jerome
c. 347–420 ADPost-Nicene10 works on Theoria7 with audio
Priest, theologian, and historian, translator of the Vulgate Bible and prolific letter writer
Works available to read
- Against JovinianusJerome's polemic in two books (393) against Jovinian, defending the superiority of consecrated virginity to marriage and addressing a wide range of moral and ascetical questions.
- Against the PelagiansAdversus Pelagianos, Jerome's last great polemic — a dialogue between Atticus and Critobulus written around 417 against the Pelagian claim that man can live without sin through free will apart from grace.
- Against VigilantiusJerome's furious reply (406) to the Gallic presbyter Vigilantius, defending the veneration of martyrs' relics, vigils at their tombs, and the ascetic life against Vigilantius's attacks.
- The Dialogue Against the LuciferiansA dialogue written around 379 between an orthodox Christian and a Luciferian, arguing that the Church is right to receive back penitent former Arians rather than repeat their baptism or refuse them communion.
- The Letters of St. JeromeA large selection from Jerome's correspondence with emperors, popes, bishops, and noble Roman women — ranging from biblical and ascetic counsel to sharp personal polemic and biographical eulogy.
- The Life of Malchus, the Captive MonkA short hagiographic life of the Syrian monk Malchus, whom Jerome claimed to have met in person, recounting his enslavement by Saracens, forced marriage, and preservation of monastic chastity.
- The Life of Paulus the First HermitJerome's idealized life of Paul of Thebes, presented as the first Christian hermit, climaxing in his discovery in extreme old age by St. Antony and his death in the Egyptian desert.
- The Life of St. HilarionA biography of Hilarion of Gaza, whom Jerome presents as the founder of Palestinian monasticism — a disciple of Antony whose miracles and ascetic discipline drew crowds across Syria, Egypt, and Cyprus.
- The Perpetual Virginity of Blessed MaryAdversus Helvidium, Jerome's defense of the perpetual virginity of the Mother of God against Helvidius, who had argued from Scripture that Mary bore other children after Jesus.
- To Pammachius against John of JerusalemA treatise addressed to Pammachius around 397 attacking Bishop John of Jerusalem in the Origenist controversy and defending Jerome's own ecclesiastical and doctrinal position.
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